trivia

noun

triv·​ia ˈtri-vē-ə How to pronounce trivia (audio)
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
1
a
: unimportant matters : trivial facts or details
But all this is trivia. Feshbach's basic concerns run deeper.Cullen Murphy
b
: facts (as about people or events) that are not well-known
celebrity trivia
What follows is a small glossary of golf slang and trivia to help you talk as good a game as you play …Rachel Urquhart
often used before another noun
a trivia book
trivia buffs
2
singular in construction : a quizzing game involving obscure facts
often used before another noun
trivia night

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, back-formation from Latin trivialis

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of trivia was in 1902

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trivia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trivia. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

trivia

singular or plural noun
triv·​ia ˈtriv-ē-ə How to pronounce trivia (audio)
: unimportant matters

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